Sleeper Watch

As we enter week seven, teams are starting to finalize their starters and fine-tune their game-plans. However, teams are also starting to get their players back from the physically unable to perform list (PUP list). Initially placed on the PUP list during training camp, players can come off the PUP list between week six and week nine of the regular season. Once they start practicing, they have those three weeks to either be placed on the active roster or placed on injured reserve. Because of this rule, the status of players on the PUP will be known for certain by week nine. Most years the PUP list does not have a big fantasy impact, but this year two important players may come off the PUP: Curtis Martin and Priest Holmes.

These two fantasy veterans were once superstars at the RB position. Both suffered career-threatening injuries within the past year, and both are eligible to begin practicing with their respective teams. They could also make a big impact on your fantasy squad this year and are available for pickup: only ten percent own Martin and four percent own Priest in CBS Sportsline leagues (23% and 11% respectively for Fanball.com).

While Curtis Martin doesn’t come back to the strongest of teams, he definitely has a good shot to retain his starting RB job. The backs that the Jets have deployed have achieved little, and only Leon Washington has shown any spark at all. Still, Leon’s performance last week was quite pedestrian. Curtis Martin suffers from a fairly serious knee injury that never healed properly from last year, and coach Eric Mangini has said that Martin will not come off the PUP list until after the Cleveland game. Assuming he eventually does, he would play seven fantasy relevant games including favorable matchups against Houston, Green Bay, and Buffalo in weeks 12, 13, and 14 respectively. Fortunately for the Jets (and us savvy fantasy players), Martin has begun training under football conditions as opposed to rehabbing his injured knee.

Assuming Martin comes back and is activated, he instantly would become a fairly good RB3 for any squad. For those who are tired of watching Reuben Droughns and other backs underwhelm, Martin could be your answer at RB or the Flex position. The Jets do not have a terrible passing game, and an improved running attack with Martin would help them out substantially. Martin can make this offense move and will also get the TDs that Kevan Barlow has been vulturing as of late. Do not expect the Curtis Martin of two years ago. That was an improved line and a better Curtis Martin. Do expect solid yardage totals and a decent shot at a TD every week. Martin brings everything that the other Jets running backs have, plus he is a better pure runner than all of them. Leon Washington may get carries in relief because he is a big play threat, but he will be used only to spell Martin occasionally. If Martin returns, he could be huge in the fantasy playoffs for week 14 when he faces the struggling Bills run defense.

Since Martin isn’t scheduled to return until after the bye in week nine, it may not be wise to pick up Martin too soon if you will need your bench spots. Whatever you do, don’t pick him up and then end up dropping him for a bye week fill-in. This could serve to alert your league to Martin’s status and they might snatch him up. If you are in a deep league (with bench spots to spare), or are desperate for RB help, then pick him up now. If you can’t afford to do it yet because you need the roster space, you might be able to grab him later. For those in keeper leagues, Martin is definitely worth a flyer if you have space on your roster in case he returns strong next year.

The second man coming off the PUP is Priest Holmes. Former holder of the single season TD record, Priest was a fantasy force. However, with the Larry Johnson show in full swing, it’s unlikely that Priest will return to the starting role. Nevertheless, if he were to return, he would certainly be the primary backup to Johnson. As Larry Johnson owners found out last year, the backup in Kansas City can sometimes be worth more than the starter. For owners of Larry Johnson, Priest is a good pickup. Priest is also a great pickup for those in deep leagues, or for those willing to take a risk in the hopes of saving a season. Priest would certainly have as much or more value than other backup running backs like Michael Turner, Michael Robinson, Maurice Jones-Drew, and Marion Barber III. Priest isn’t as high of a priority of a pickup as Martin, but he’s owned in only 20 percent of ESPN leagues compared to 30 percent for Martin. For keeper or dynasty league owners, there are rumors that Priest might forgo this season in favor of coming back strong next year. That might be reason enough to pick him up if he’s hanging around the wire.

While it is possible that neither make it back this year, if they do, they instantly become the cream of the waiver wire crop. Pick up Priest and Martin now, and stash them on your bench until they become productive or are placed on IR.

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